CARLTON defender Alex Silvagni will be sidelined for four weeks with bone bruising in his knee, while first-year forward Patrick Kerr has been booked in for season-ending hip surgery.

Silvagni landed awkwardly on his knee against the Bulldogs last Sunday, in his first game back since injuring the same knee early in the Blues' round 13 win over Greater Western Sydney.

The former Docker had scans early this week before consulting a specialist on Wednesday.

A Blues spokesman told AFL.com.au Silvagni had escaped with no more than bone bruising, but was expected to miss the next four rounds.

Kerr also consulted a specialist on Wednesday after missing the Northern Blues' VFL game last weekend. The key forward will undergo hip surgery next week, but is expected to be fit in time for day one of 2018 pre-season training.

Ciaran Byrne was ruled out of the Blues' team for Sunday's clash against the Brisbane Lions after straining an adductor against the Bulldogs, but the defender is only expected to miss one week.

Dylan Buckley (hamstring) was also injured against the Bulldogs and will miss up to three weeks.

However, Dale Thomas, a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs game with calf tightness, was named in Carlton's round 18 team.